In footsteps of our saint
Mar 17 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
GOSPEL campaigners are preparing to celebrate St Cuthbert’s day with an annual march to Durham.
Members of the Northumbrian Association are inviting walkers, amateur historians and anyone with an interest in the Lindisfarne Gospels to join them this Thursday at Chester-le-Street.
The walk commemorates the route taken when St Cuthbert’s body was moved from the town to Durham – known as Cuddy’s Corse – and takes place on the saint’s feast day.
And now the association is hoping to secure funding from North East councils to produce a tourist guide listing the many walks in the region connected to St Cuthbert.
Northumbrian Association treasurer John Danby said the route used by Lindisfarne monks as they carried St Cuthbert’s body around the North East was an unused selling point available to tourism chiefs.
“We have a real opportunity here to show our unique history,” Mr Danby said.
He and the association are convinced the region could see a growth in tourist numbers if they revealed to the rest of the UK the North’s heritage as the “birthplace of Christianity in England”.
Any potential tourist route would cover the many locations thought to have hosted St Cuthbert’s body during a seven-year tour which started after monks fled Holy Island in fear of Viking attacks in 875.
They took with them Cuthbert’s body and the Gospels written in his honour and travelled the length and breadth of Northumbria leaving a legacy of more than 50 churches named after him.
The trail would include the Chester-le-Street to Durham stretch, via Finchale Abbey, which walkers will be covering on Thursday morning.
Mr Danby said the support shown on the walk acts as a “clear symbol” of the region’s determination to secure a long-term display of the Lindisfarne Gospels.
“The Gospel’s rested at Chester-le-Street for 113 years before moving to Durham; they were never intended to be stuck in a library in London.
“The walk is quite easy and just follows the route his body would have taken.”
Mr Danby said the tourist trail would become even more important as support continued to grow for the Gospels to be returned.
Walkers wishing to take part in the seven-mile trek are asked to gather at St Cuthbert’s Church in Chester-le-Street at 10am.
Refreshments are provided but advanced notification is appreciated.
To take part in the walk contact John Danby on (0191) 389-2699 or email him at john.danby@btopenworld.com.
